WhatsApp me policies have brought chaos in the instant messaging industry. Users are shifting to the new instant messaging platforms to counter-attack WhatsApp monopoly. In such a scenario, Hike Messenger surprised everyone by shutting down its operations.
Why Hike Messaging App aka Sticker Chat is Shut Down?
When Hike messenger was founded in the last month of 2012, everyone had great expectations from it. Experts were calling it the main rival of WhatsApp.
Hike collected funds from investors like Softbank and Tiger Global. It was valued at $1.4 billion in 2016. Hike messenger is also known as Hike sticker chat. It rolled out a shutting down notification to all its users last week.
Kavin Bharti Mittal is the founder of Hike and the son of Telecom tycoon Airtel’s Sunil Bharti Mittal,
When asked about the Indian instant messaging app’s popularity in the local market, he said that no Indian messaging app can compete with other apps. It is quite difficult to make a base in India. “A homegrown app can grow only when western apps are totally banned”, he stated further.
Zoho is also launching the Indian instant messaging app Arattai to woo Indian users.
“Global network effects are too strong for India to have its own messenger” Mittal hinted about why his company closing sticker chat.
12/ Today we're announcing that we will be sunsetting StickerChat in Jan'21.
We thank you all for giving us your trust. We wouldn’t be here without you ❤️
All your data will be available to download in the app. Your HikeMoji will continue to be available in both Vibe & Rush!
— Kavin Bharti Mittal (@kavinbm) January 6, 2021
Hike’s decision came at such a time when all messaging apps are grabbing the users of WhatsApp. New policies of WhatsApp has brought millions of new users to other platforms like Signal, and Telegram.
Mittal also supported Telegram and Signal over the controversial WhatsApp. He said that Facebook products are no more customer-centric while Signal and Telegram are very good. Both messaging platforms think about their users.
For the last few years, users remember Hike for its new stickers and emoji creations. Hike attracted the young generation through these creative emojis and stickers.
In 2019, Mittal was very happy with the users’ response to these creations. The Hike was planning to bring personalized stickers and Emojis for users.
Hike Future Plan and other Initiatives
“In the current scenario where the data is very cheap and the powerful smartphones are cost-effective, it is easy to create a digital world,” Mittal said.
Kavin launched two virtual app Vibe and Rush. Vibe is a social app, whereas Rush is an online gaming app. He said that the whole focus is on those two apps.
13/ We're excited to focus all our efforts on products for this new era in 2021 & beyond!
→ Vibe by hike (previously HikeLand)
→ Rush by hikeIt's going to be one heck of a year. Thanks for tuning in!
— Kavin Bharti Mittal (@kavinbm) January 6, 2021
Last year, HikeLand, a virtual hangout place of Hike, launched so many new emojis related to human expression. As per experts’ analysis, the Newly launched app Vibe is a newer version of HikeLand.
Mittal also confirmed that the stickers and emojis of sticker chat will be used in the recently launched apps.
Hike messenger is not the only failure of Mittal’s founded company. In the year 2018, they tried to build an Operating System(OS). To build Total OS, Hike acquired Creo. OS was launched to support low-cost android phones with slow data connectivity.
Reliance Jio brought cheap data plans and other telecom providers also provided more data at less price to stay in the market. Different Chinese companies provided affordable price-powerful android phones. These two major changes made the Total OS useless. Hike shutdown the OS project then.
Hike has raised a total fund of $260 million up to now. More fundraising drives are possible in the coming year, hinted Mittal.
